Hoyer: HUD Contracts Must be Awarded on Merit

For Immediate Release:

September 22, 2006

Contact:Stacey Farnen Bernards(202) 225 - 3130

WASHINGTON, DC–House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD) today released the following statement in response to a Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Inspector General’s report stating that political leanings were taken into consideration when awarding discretionary contracts.

"The HUD Inspector General's report raises another red flag about the widespread cronyism and corruption in the Bush Administration. Taxpayers rightly demand that federal contracts be awarded based on merit. It is truly disturbing that Secretary Jackson is apparently using his office to attempt to reward or penalize potential contractors based on their political views. Such behavior is a blatant breach of the public trust and the Department of Justice should conduct a full investigation."